A
big thanks to you all for making this year's WDP tour -- the best attended
ever! Sold-out shows ocurred in Springfield IL, Green BayWI, Fargo ND,
St. Cloud MN, Ft. Dodge IA, and Williamsburg VA. Over 900 people turned
up also for our first ever performance in Kalamazoo, MI and heavy turnout
also in Manitowoc WI, Peoria IL, and Chicago at the historic Willowbrook
Ballroom.

A
very special thanks to Mother Nature as well, as this tour at one point
could almost have been dubbed "The Summer Dance Party." Imagine
64 degrees in Davenport, IA on January 27th! Incredible.

Highlights
of the tour included Mr. Bobby Vee as our special guest at the Paramount
Theatre in St. Cloud, MN. Needless to say the audience was thrilled
at the surprise appearance. Bobby was also joined onstage by his son
Robby on guitar and other son Tommy on bass, who was already on tour
with us this year along with the rest of the WDP band. A rocking version
of "Love's Made a Fool of You" was performed by Bobby and
also a mellow "It Doesn't Matter Anymore." Thank you Bobby!

Another
fun moment occurred at our show at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo, MI
when Jay Richardson's wee lad of a son Thomas (Bopper Jr. the II) came
out onstage during the initial phone ringing of Chantilly Lace and proclaimed
to Jay and the audience, "It's Mommy and you're busted!!"
Jay also got a standing ovation from the crowd for his heartfelt rendition
of "Someone Watching Over You."

Had
the biggest pancakes ever known to man one morning at Skip's Place on
Holmgren Way in Green Bay, WI, with Mark Steuer and Tony Szikil watching
in amazement. If you're ever in the area I highly recommend. Bring a
wheelchair for afterwards, as you won't be able to move!

The
Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay once again won the highly coveted "Loudest
WDP Audience Award." Thanks to our man Mark "The Stoy"
Steuer and Janet Gollnick for making our Packerland visit a fun one
yet again.

Ray
Anthony was a new member of the tour this year. His tribute to Ritchie
Valens brought the audiences to a new level of frenzy as his great guitar
playing, singing and costumes were impossible to resist. Also, this
year we used Bobby Vee's tech crew, Dean Boraas on sound and "Flash"
Olsen on lights and they were quite the pro's. Thanks guys!

Well,
that's about it for now. Thanks again to everyone for your support.
Thanks to special guests Tommy Vee and Sherry Holly. Special thanks
to longtime helpers Quincy Stringham, Marcia Lodl, the official WDP
princesses, Mike Burke at Big Oldies 93.3, Jenny Richardson at GRPR,
The Kessler's at Recycled Records, Titletown Brewery, Nathaniel Bachelder
at Gales Creek Insurance, all the venues' and ballrooms' staff and,
of course, anyone else I've probably forgotten.